by Ingrid Nova | May 30, 2016 | Community Service Ongoing, East Lansing Rotary Foundation, Pancakes in the Park
The Rotary of Club of East Lansing puts on the Pancakes in the Park event each year to raise funds to benefit community projects. The 2015 Pancakes in the Park benefited the following organizations:
- The Weekend Survivor Kit Program coordinated by Many Hands Foundation
- The Okemos Band Boosters for new uniforms
- Helping Hands Respite Care to support a Music Therapy program
- Donley Elementary School received funds for books for their library
- Parkwood YMCA for Summer Camp Scholarships
- East Lansing High School for their after Prom Party
- Funds for the East Lansing Library for the Literacy Program
- Support for the new East Lansing Pickle Ball Court at Patriarch Park
- Support for Beekman Therapeutic Riding Center
- A contribution to East Lansing Parks and Recreation for the Art and Ceramic Studio at the Hannah Community Center
To learn more about receiving funds from the East Lansing Rotary Club go to https://eastlansing636.wpenginepowered.com/rotary-committee-summary/community-service/
by Ingrid Nova | May 26, 2016 | Awards, East Lansing Rotary Foundation, Foundation and Fund Raising
Joe Osypczuk, the Chairman of the East Lansing Rotary Foundation, had the privilege of addressing students, teachers, and parents at the 2016 High School Honors Event.
Greetings East Lansing Graduates and Scholars,
As a member of the Rotary Club of East Lansing, I am blessed to be able to stand before you to say how proud all of our club members are to have you in our community. You are being recognized for your outstanding scholarly skills as well as your outstanding community service.
As Rotarians, we are often asked, “What is a Rotary Club”? Rotary can best be defined in this way:
“Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons that are united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.”
Needless to say, our work begins in our local community of East Lansing by providing funding for items such as the Weekend Survival Kit backpack program that provides food for youngsters that are in need, the purchase of books for our local school libraries, the recent renovation of the Patriarche Park Playground and of course, the Joe Gross Memorial Scholarships and the student excellence awards that are being presented today.
In 1943, Rotary adopted a code of ethics that is now called The Four-Way Test. This code of ethics is followed by all Rotarians and is something that can be used and applied by everyone on a daily basis.
The message is simply:
Of the things we think, say or do:
1) IS IT THE TRUTH?
2) IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED?
3) WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4) WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED?
Congratulations on everything you have accomplished to date in your young lives. It is only the beginning – there is so much more for you to experience in the years ahead. Hopefully, the experiences will all be wonderful and fulfilling.
Thank you for letting the East Lansing Rotary Club be a part of your awards ceremonies.
We are pleased to provide the following awards to these outstanding students:
Student Excellence Awards ($ 250.00 Each)
Kokou Dagbovie
Jordan Harris-Gonzales
Scholarships ($ 2.000.00 Each)
Katelyn Meyer
Paul Przybylski
Madelyn Zink
by Ingrid Nova | Apr 19, 2016 | Awards, Celebrations, East Lansing Rotary Foundation, Events, Notable News for Members
The Crystal Awards, hosted annually by the East Lansing City Council, honor individuals, businesses, professionals, non-profits and community groups that have made an outstanding contribution to community life in East Lansing.
Crystal Award recipients are dedicated to enhancing the East Lansing community. They demonstrate a passion for and commitment to creating a healthy and vibrant community and serve as an inspiration to others. Recipients are dedicated to enhancing the East Lansing community. They demonstrate a passion and commitment to creating a healthy and vibrant community and serve as an inspiration to others.
The Rotary Club of East Lansing was the non-profit recipient in 2015. This year, Rotarian Jim Little is the individual recipient.
Crystal Awards recipients are honored at a special community reception this Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 5 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. The Awards Ceremony will occur at 6:00 p.m.
In addition to the program, the reception will feature hors d’oeuvres and live music. All community members are invited to attend.
We especially encourage you to attend to congratulate Jim and to demonstrate strong support from our Rotary Club.
by Ingrid Nova | Apr 3, 2016 | Celebrations
Many, many “THANKS” to each and every one of you for your support of the Weekend Survival Kits (WSK) program through your participation in the first-ever WSK Friend Raiser held on March 21 and/or by voting for the WSK program during the month-long Big Bang-quet Community Charity Challenge which concluded with a “Grand Reveal” reception held at the University Club of MSU on March 23rd.
Your support of these efforts helped us raise a total of $10,546 for the Weekend Survival Kits program! That’s enough money to purchase food to fill over 2,100 food kits — each containing food for 11 meals and 2 snacks — to help feed hungry children in communities across Ingham County.
Here are some of the highlights from the WSK Friend Raiser and Big Bang-quet voting:
* We had a great turnout at the Friend Raiser — 100 lunches delicious and savory lunches were served by the University Club of MSU; our final reservations count was for 110 lunches.
* At the Friend Raiser, $981 was contributed at the door – 100% of which goes to the Weekend Survival Kits program.
* The three service clubs serving as co-hosts for the Friend Raiser – Rotary Club of East Lansing, Rotary Club of Haslett-Okemos and the Kiwanis Club of East Lansing — donated some $3,000 for the WSK program. Each of the clubs contributed $500 as a Friend Raiser co-host and also donated the amount that would have been spent for the meal at their regular weekly club luncheon.
* Three sponsors (Jackson, Williamston Citgo and Williamston Cross Fit) donated a total of $3,500 for the Friend Raiser.
* 681 votes were cast for the Weekend Survival Kits program during the Big Bang-quet Community Charity Challenge which concluded on March 23rd. Those 681 votes @ $5 each equal $3,405. Ninety percent of this amount or $3,065 will go to the Weekend Survival Kits program with the remaining 10% used to cover administrative fees and projects supported by the Capital Region Community Foundation.
Special thanks to our co-hosts who made our first ever WSK Friend Raiser possible – the University Club of MSU, Many Hands Foundation, Kiwanis Club of East Lansing, Rotary Club of Haslett-Okemos and Rotary Club of East Lansing.
Once again – many thanks to everyone for your help in combating childhood hunger in our communities through your support of the Weekend Survival Kits program!
2016 WSK Friend Raiser Committee
Mike Adel, Randy Bell, Katie Donovan, Wyatt Earp, Jeff Gorsline, Carrie Hindmon, Dave Muhleck, Joe Osypczuk, Bob Page, John Saltzgaber, Peggy Vaughn-Payne
by Ingrid Nova | Feb 19, 2016 | Community Service Ongoing, Events, Weekend Survival Kits
Please Support the Weekend Survival Kits Program
Feeding Hungry Children. Now in its’ sixth year of operation, the Weekend Survival Kits (WSK) program helps feed needy children (most of whom receive free, or reduced-price meals at school) by providing them with a two-gallon bag filled with nutritional food every other Friday during the school year. A typical Weekend Survival Kit includes: pre-portioned crackers, soup, 100% fruit juice, pudding cups, mac and cheese, canned vegetables, pasta with protein, peanut butter, granola bars, fruit cups in plastic containers, single serve cereal boxes, fruit chews and oatmeal packets. Each “kit” is packed with enough food for up to 7 meals and 2 snacks to help feed a hungry child. In 2013, the Many Hands Foundation became the fiduciary agent for the WSK program and now coordinates the program’s food ordering, packing sessions and food kit deliveries.
2015-16 Participating Schools – Feeding Hungry Children
Started during the 2010-11 school year, the Weekend Survival Kits program currently serves nearly 1,500 children in 10 school districts, including: Dansville, Haslett, Holt (Hope, Sycamore, Wilcox), Okemos (Central, Hiawatha, Bennett Woods, Cornell), Lansing (Attwood, Post Oak, REO, Riddle, Willow, Cavanaugh, North, Gier, Eastern Middle School, Beekman Center), Ingham ISD (Heartwood), DeWitt (Herbison Woods, Schavey Road, Scott), Mason (Alaiedon, Steele, North Aurelius), East Lansing (Donley, Pinecrest, Glencairn, Marble) and Williamston (Discovery, Middle School, Explorer, Lil’ Hornets), and the after-school tutoring program at the Edgewood Village Network Center in East Lansing.
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You can help close the food insecurity gap in our communities
by voting in
the U Club’s “Big Bang-quet Community Charity Challenge.”
Cast your $5 votes for the Weekend Survival Kits program
online between February 22 and March 22 at:
www.universityclubofmsu.org/theclubwithaheart
